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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matthew Wells

Bryce Mitchell reacts to Movsar Evloev’s withdrawal: ‘I’ve never been so harassed in my life’

Undefeated UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell isn’t happy with his originally scheduled UFC Fight Night 214 opponent pulling out of their matchup, especially considering the amount of trash talk he received.

On Thursday, news broke that Mitchell’s opponent and fellow undefeated 145-pound fighter Movsar Evloev withdrew from their main event bout due to an undisclosed injury.

In a video posted to Twitter, Mitchell (15-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) expressed his frustration with Evloev (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), considering the amount of “harassment” and “bullying” he received in the lead up to the bout.

“So after months of harassing me and bullying me on the social media, Movsar pulls out of the fight,” Mitchell said. “And might I say, I’ve never been so bullied in my life. And I don’t really accept the victim mentality, it don’t really bother me, it just pisses me off, you know? It makes me want to go in there and punch him right in his face.

“He says all these things on me on social media about how I’m a coward, and I’m a dumbass, and this and that, and that and this. I’ve never been so harassed in my life. … So you can say what you want, but when it comes down to it, this guy was ready to go. All them words, that’s f*ckin’ cheap, man. Them words don’t mean a f*ckin’ thing. I was gonna show up and give you a piece of my mind. And it wasn’t going to be in English, buddy. It was going to be with these (fists).”

Mitchell explained how Evloev, his team, and fans messaged him constantly on social media in the days leading up to the now-canceled bout. He also stated he is dealing with things hurting on his body as well, but was still prepared to show up for the main event bout to perform.

Regardless, as it stands, Mitchell is left without an opponent for Nov. 5.

However, it appears Mitchell would like to remain on the card and addressed a prior call out from fellow featherweight Sodiq Yusuff, who is coming off a 30-second submission win at UFC Fight Night 211.

Sadiq since u been callin me out I’m gunna accept ur offer. I kno u ain’t scared but I’m worried u got too fat! Haha it’s all luv Sadiq but u kno dam well I ain’t lyin. Make the weight and let’s do it brother

Unfortunately, Mitchell will have to continue to look elsewhere for an opponent if he would like to fight on his originally planned date, because Yusuff is not in a position to make another weight cut in three weeks.

“You are absolutely correct Bryce,” Yusuff wrote on Twitter. “If we fight, it’s definitely not happening in November at this point.”

Mitchell’s last bout was a unanimous decision victory against Edson Barboza at UFC 272 in March, which was his return from a 16-month absence from competition.

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